Giannis Antetokounmpo: 3 factors that have contributed to erratic start

Turnovers have continued to haunt Giannis Antetokounmpo

As Antetokounmpo’s shot selection can be ironed out on multiple fronts, his decision-making with the ball in his hands has been equally concerning. This obviously comes after a night in which he finished with a career-high nine turnovers in that loss to the Lakers.

Through his 15 appearances, Antetokounmpo is averaging 4.3 turnovers per 36 minutes, which is currently matching the mark he had on his 2019-20 campaign.

It’s been on drives to the paint and the basket where Antetokounmpo’s penchant for turning the ball over that has surfaced at inopportune times. On the 10.5 drives that Antetokounmpo is averaging per game, the Greek superstar has a 12.2 turnover percentage per Second Spectrum on such plays.

Antetokounmpo’s probing with the ball in his hands has been increasingly neutralized in the bigger profile clashes the Bucks have played this season, which the Basketball News’ Nekias Duncan explored after the Bucks’ recent loss to the Nets.

And it’s on these drives where opponents have only gotten better in defending and getting Antetokounmpo into foul trouble. To this point, Antetokounmpo has 15 offensive fouls, 11 of which have come on charge calls (per pbpstats) that unsurprisingly tops the league.

For all of these reasons, it’s curious to see if the Bucks and Budenholzer will incorporate more looks for Antetokounmpo as the roller in pick-and-rolls, especially when matched up with fellow contenders in the East and the league as a whole. Antetokounmpo is averaging 1.17 points per possession per Second Spectrum in such sets this season, which ranks in the 59th percentile.

Anything that will result in better looks for Antetokounmpo in the paint is incredibly necessary to fully utilize the skills and presence he brings any time he comes to the court.

Whatever the issues that are ailing Antetokounmpo, he has plenty of time to iron out the many things that are weighing on him this season and to avoid the same pitfalls moving forward.